COVER ORGANIZATION 615 



The needs of the birds change with the time of year, their age and the quality of the food or 

 shelter produced by each individual situation. Even considering ideal cover, it is not possible 

 to say just what the minimum size of each type should be. 



The pattern recommended by the Investigation for planting open fields eventually to form 

 excellent grouse cover is illustrated in figure 67. The distances suggested are probably ample 

 and in the absence of more directive experience, may also be considered safe. 



Integration with Other Uses 



Another component of good design, though not necessarily of good grouse coverts, is the 

 coordination of management recommendations with other uses for which grouse habitats may 

 be suited. Among these are the production of forest crops, the development of recreational 

 opportunities other than hunting, the control of sheet and stream bank erosion and the regu- 

 lation of stream flow by revegetation of areas characterized by quick run-off. 



If multiple use is desired, it is inevitable that the specialized improvement practices asso- 

 ciated with one or another of these uses be modified so as not to interfere seriously with the 

 main object of building good grouse habitat. The first decision to be made is to establish the 

 order of importance of the crops to be encouraged. 



In the Northeast, and in many other sections as well, it is quite possible, by an intelligent 

 integration of the needs of both forest and wildlife management, to plan and carry out cover 

 improvement so that a large croj) of grouse may be produced together with a crop of forest 

 products almost as large as though that were the prime consideration. For instance, it is 

 wise to plan, where possible, to develoj) woodland ty|)es providing winter shelter and spring 

 breeding grounds where soil and moisture conditions arc coiiducixo to good forest growth and 

 where the trees therefrom may eventually be harvested witlmwi undue difficulty. 



Effective erosion control may be accomplished by planting stream banks, gullies or steep 

 slopes to trees and shrubs that furnish fall feeding opportunities for grouse. However, other 

 similar units should be developed on less difficult terrain to provide good fall hunting grounds. 



The methods of accomplishing this synthesis of interests are discussed in some detail in 

 the next chapter. That good habitat design can be built around the princijile of multiple use 

 should not be forgotten. 



COVER ORGANIZATION 



Having considered the pertinent principles of cover design as well as their integration with 

 other land uses, one is now ready to consider their application in properly designing a covert. 



Most coverts contain open land, overgrown land and forested areas within their borders. 

 One is accordingly faced with the problem of so handling these as to produce the maximum 

 numbers of desirable grouse habitats. Open lands may be left to seed in naturally or the 

 process may be guided and hastened by artificial plantings, so arranged as eventually to 

 form good cover. Likewise, overgrown lands and forested areas may be maintained or im- 

 proved by a variety of means as discussed in the succeeding chapter. For best results, such 

 practices should be carried out according to a preconceived plan. 



Previous to the Investigation few. if any patterns for ruffed grouse coverts had been worked 

 out. The present suggestions are based on a study of the composition, size and arrangement 

 of types in outstandingly productive grouse habitats, supplemented by experience in produc- 

 ing them. 



